Method of and apparatus for removing labels from bottles



Feb. 16, 1943. J. HEROLD METHOD OF AND APPARATI JS FOR REMOVING LABELS FROM BOTTLES Filed Dec. 6, 1940 7 FIGAL.

-JAMES L. HEROLD {W68 Patented F eb. 16, 1943 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMOV- ING LABELS FROM BOTTLES James L. Herold, St. Louis, Mo, assignor to Barry-Wehmiller Machinery Company, St.

Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application December 6, 1940', Serial No. 368,752

6 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for removing labels from bottles. Prior to this invention an ordinary commercial practice has consisted in forcibly brushing or scrubbing the outer faces of bottles to remove the. labels, and thereafter rinsing or washing the bottles to remove the small fragments'adhering thereto.

An object of the present invention is to more effectively and economically remove the labels as well as the tiny fragments which may tend to adhere to the bottles.

A simple form of the invention consists in submerging the bottles in a body of liquid to soak and loosen the labels, and thereafter forcibly projecting liquid onto the submerged bottles to positively remove the loosened labels.

In comparing this procedure with the old idea of brushing wet labels from bottles, it will be observed that a wet label exposed to the atmosphere tends to cling to the bottle, and considerable difliculty has been encountered in brushing wet particles from the bottles. Mowever, when a properly soaked label is completely submerged with the bottle, such adhesion is practically elimi-- nated, and the submerged paper can be readily released from the submerged bottles.

Actual commercial use of the present invention has shown that this simple procedure is not only entirely feasible but also most effective in the removal of labels and fragments of labels from the outer faces of bottles. Of course, the labels must be properly soaked and the entire plan must include all of the cooperative conditions essential to success. My object is to produce the required combination and arrangement of details including the necessary preliminary soaking while transmitting the submerged bottles to a label-removing zone, or releasing zone, where the submerged labels are positively released and forcibly discharged from the sub merged bottles, as well as the conditions necessary to dispose of the mass of submerged labels after they are displaced from the bottles.

In one form of the invention, the submerged. bottles are transmitted step by step to a labelremoving zone adjacent to but below the surface of the liquid. At this zone, the submerged bottles are loosely confined and free to vibrate in the body of liquid. Submerged streams of liquid are forcibly projected toward the loosely confined bottles, so as to produce a very violent turbulent condition around the bottles, thereby subjecting the loose bottles to an irregular shaking or vibratory motion while the submerged labels are subjected to the forcible impacts of the violent currents around the bottles. Thi combination of conditions can be very conveniently produced near the surface of the liquid to remove the labels from the outgoing bottles, and

I the resultant mixture of labels and liquid can be diverted to a lower zone of less violence where the labels may be deposited on a strainer while the liquid continues in an endless course.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel method, construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and shown in the accompanying drawing, which illustrates only one form of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications within-the scope of the terms employed in the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating portions of a soaking apparatus equipped with a label remover embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view taken approximately on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2-, showing only two of the traveling bottle holders submerged in a body of liquid, a nozzle to discharge a submerged stream of liquid, and a straining device to receive the mixture of labels and liquid.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, showing the straining device.

In this illustration of the invention, the label remover appears as a simple attachment for a well known type of bottle cleaner, or soaker, wherein bottles are carried by an endless conveyor through a hot caustic solution, or other suitable liquid, to loosen the dirt which is removed in subsequent cleansing operations. However, I have not shown the separate cleansing devices, nor the means for imparting the usual intermittent, step by step motion to the traveling conveyor.

The soaking tank herein shown comprise side walls 5, an end wall 6 and a partition 1 associated with a bottom 8 to provide a container fora body of any suitable liquid. The traveling bottle conveyor may be of the chain type provided with horizontal rows of bottle holders 9 to receive horizontal groups of bottles.

Each bottle holder -9 is preferably open at both I ends, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with openings ill in its side walls, so as to permit free circulation of liquid through the bottle holders. Furthermore, the bottles are loosely confined in the bottle holders, as suggested in Fig. 3, the object being to permit free displacement of the bottles in the open holders. A suitable stationary track H may be employed to retain the loose bottles in the holders. To submerge the bottles in the body of liquid, the bottle holders descend through the surface [2 of said liquid as shown 7 near the right hand end of Fig. 1. Thereafter,

the bottle holders travel horizontally to theleft hand portion of Fig. 1 wherethey rise and pass out of the body of liquid.

I will now refer to a specific means for removing labels, with the understanding that any desired means may be employed to submerge the 1 bottles, and that any suitable means may be cated in the zone of reverse flow where the liquid and labels move at a relatively low velocity. In

' other words, the violent currents are projected employed to forcibly project portions of the liquid toward the submerged bottlesto remove the soaked and loosened labels. After the submerged labels have been quately soaked and loosened, the outgoing botadecarrier.

moving at a lower velocity, before the returning tles arrive at a label-removing zone, or releasing I zone, immediately below the-surface of the liquid, as suggested at the upper portion of Fig, 3. At this point, the intermittent bottle carrier pauses for an interval of rest, which conveniently provides a substantial period of time for the removal of soaked labels from the submerged bottles. One or more nozzles are preferably employed to forcibly project portions of the body of liquid toward the bottles. a

For example, Fig. 1 shows a horizontal discharge pipe I3 provided with three flaring nozzles I 4 arranged in a horizontal row, said nozzles being submerged in the body of liquid and directed toward a row of the submerged bottle holders, so as to discharge submerged streams of liquid approximately parallel with the surface of said body of liquid and toward the loosely confined bottles. The submerged streams forcibly projected from the nozzles I4 combine with portions of the liquid to produce an extremely turbulent condition in the bottle holders?! which loosely confine the bottles.

As a consequence, the loose bottles are subjected to a forcible shaking or vibratory motion which tends to release the labels, at the same time preventing the labels from being clamped between the bottles and the bottle holders. While the submerged bottles are undergoing this treatment, the soaked labels are subjected to the violent impacts of the highly turbulent currents of liquid passing through thesubmerged bottle holders. The necks of the bottles in this zone are preferably directed toward the discharge pipe I4, and the ends as well "as the sides of the bottle holders are preferably open to receive the currents of liquid and permit free discharge of the mixture of labels and liquid.

It will be observed that the violent submerged streams are discharged across the course of a rising portion of the traveling bottle carrier, with a high degree of turbulence producing some counter currents, but the general direction is longitudinally of the bottle holders. The resultant submerged currentsof liquid and labels proceed toward the end wall 6 (Fig. l) which serves as a baflie to divert the currents from the upper portion of the liquid to a zone of reverse flow and decreasing violence below the label-re moving zone. f

During this reverse flow, and while moving at a relatively low velocity, someof the soaked labels will drop to the bottom of the large body of liquid, but there is a constant endless circulation tending to carry the'l-abels back into-the course of the bottle carrier. To dispose of these traveling labels and prevent them from interfering with continued operation of the system, they are preferably stopped at a suitable straining device.

For example, I5 designates a rectangular strainer extending upwardly from the bottom of the body .of liquid. to a plane near but lower than the label-removing zone, said strainer be ng locurrent reaches the course of the traveling bottle carrier.

I6 designates a label holder in the form of a box secured to and extending from the lower margin of the strainer I'5. This strainer may be inclined to extend over the holder I6, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and said holder I6 is open at the top to receive labels falling from or defiected by the strainer.

To facilitate removal of the labels from the strainer I5 and its label holder I6, these parts are movable upwardly as suggested by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, to positions near an'opening in the end wall 6, said opening being normally closed by-a door I1. The'side margins of the strainer I5 are slidable between guide bars I8 and I9, as shown in Fig. 2. The bar I9 is relatively long to provide a support for the lower portion of the strainer when it occupies the exposed elevated position shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, while the guide bar I8 is relatively short to permit free removal of the straining device when it occupies said elevated position. The bottom of the label holder I6 is formed by a perforated plate (Fig. 3) which provides a screen through which liquid isdischarged while the strainer is moving upwardly, and also provides for drainage of liquid when the label holder is removed from the main body of liquid.

The strainer I5 and label holder I6 may :be detachably. secured in their. elevated position by any suitable'means. For example, the'device 20 whichserves as .a handle for the strainer, may be provided with pivoted 'hooks 2| adapted to engage a projection 22, as'shown in Fig. 1. I

To illustrate a desirable means for transmitting liquid to the nozzles I4, I have shown an intake compartment 23 (Fig. 1) which receives relatively clean liquid at points remote from said nozzles. This intake compartment is provided with a baflie wall 24 spaced from the partition wall I, the lower edge of said baflle 24 being separated from the bottom of the tank to form an inlet at the bottom of the body of liquid.

" To prevent the formationof an objectionable air pocket in this intake compartment, I have shown a'vent pipe 29 extending upwardly from said compartment. An intake pipe 25 is located 'in the upper portion of said compartment 23.

:This intake pipe is arranged horizontally and provided with an elongated inlet port 26 at the bottom.. It forms part of the suction line, 21

'leading to aqpump '28 which forcibly discharges a? continuous stream of liquid through the dis- 7 charge. pipe I3.

' The body of liquid is thus subjected to an endless or cyclic circulation, and in actual practice it is desirable to exclude matches, large pieces of paper and other large particles of foreign matter from the pump. The arrangement of details at the intake compartment .23 will tend'to prevent .the'delivery of suchmaterial to ,the intake pipe I claim:

1. The method of removing labels from bottles which comprises submerging the bottles in a body of liquid to soak and loosen the labels, at the same time transmitting the submerged botties to a label-removing zone in the liquid, and violently circulating portions of said liquid at said label-removing zone to forcibly remove the loosened labels from the submerged bottles, the last mentioned operation including the step of projecting a submerged stream of fluid approximately parallel with the surface of said body of liquid and across the course of the submerged bottles.

2. In an apparatus for removing labels from bottles, a soaking tank adapted to receive a body of liquid, means for submerging the bottles in said body of liquid to soak and loosen the labels, said submerging means including a bottle carrier movable into and out of the body of liquid, and provided with bottle holders adapted to loosely confine the submerged bottles, means for forcibly projecting portions of said body of liquid through said bottle holders to remove the loosened labels from the submerged bottles, said projecting means comprising a submerged nozzle located below but adjacent to the liquid level in said tank and facing toward a rising portion of said bottle carrier, said rising portion of the carrier being adjacent to and movable upwardly through the surface of the liquid, and a pump communicating with said submerged nozzle to forcibly discharge a violent submerged stream of liquid across said rising portion of the bottle carrier, said bottle holders having openings to receive the violent currents of liquid and permit discharge of the liquid and labels from the loose- 1y confined bottles, and a strainer located in a lower portion of said tank to receive the labels discharged from said bottle holders.

3. In an apparatus for removing labels from bottles, a soaker comprising a tank to receive a body of liquid, means for submerging the bottles in said body of liquid to soak and loosen the labels, said submerging means including a traveling bottle carrier movable step by step in said tank and provided with approximately horizontal rows of bottle holders adapted to loosely confine rows of the submerged bottles, means for forcibly projecting portions of said body of liquid toward the submerged bottles to remove the loosened labels, said projecting means comprising an approximately horizontal row of submerged nozzles located below but adjacent to the liquid level in said tank and facing toward a rising portion of said traveling bottle carrier, said rising portion of the carrier being adjacent to and movable upwardly through the surface of the liquid, said projecting means being provided with devices for circulating liquid through said submerged nozzles including an intake compartment remote from said nozzles having a baflle wall separated from the bottom of said tank to provide an inlet at the bottom of the body of liquid, a suction pipe leading from an upper portion of said intake compartment, a discharge pipe leading to said submerged nozzles, and a pump between said pipes to forcibly discharge streams of liquid from said nozzles, the ends and sides of said bottle holders being open to permit free discharge of labels from the loosely confined bottles in response to the discharge of liquid from said submerged nozzles, a strainer to receive the discharged labels, said strainer and tion of the bottle carrier, and the nozzles being higher than the strainer so asto produce the most violent currents in portions of the liquid above the strainer, and a label holder located below said strainer.

4. In an apparatus for removing labels from bottles, a soaking tank adapted to receive a body of liquid, means for submerging the bottles in said body of liquid to soak and loosen the labels, said submerging means including a bottle carrier movable into and out of the body of liquid, and provided with bottle holders adapted to loosely confine the submerged bottles, means for forcibly projecting portions of said body of liquid through said bottle holders to remove the loosened labels from the submerged bottles, said projecting means comprising a submerged nozzle located below but adjacent to the liquid level in said tank and facing toward a rising portion of said bottle carrier, said rising portion of the carrier being adjacent to and movable upwardly through the surface of the liquid, and a pump communicatirg with said submerged nozzle to forcibly discharge a violent submerged stream of liquid across said rising portion of the bottle carrier.

5. In an apparatus for removing labels from bottles, a soaker comprising a tank to receive a body of liquid, means for submerging the bottles in said body of liquid to soakand loosen the labels, said submerging means including a traveling bottle carrier movable step by step in said tank and provided with approximately horizontal rows of bottle holders adapted to loosely confine rows of the submerged bottles, means for forcibly projecting portions of said body of liquid toward the submerged bottles to remove the loosened labels, said projecting means comprising an approximately horizontal row of submerged nozzles located below but adjacent to the liquid level in said tank and facing toward a rising portion of said traveling bottle carrier, said rising portion of the carrier being adjacent to and movable upwardly through the surface of the liquid, and a strainer to receive the discharged labels, said strainer and nozzles being at opposite sides of the rising portion of the bottle carrier, and the nozzles being higher than the strainer so as to produce the most violent currents in portions of the liquid above the strainer.

6. In an apparatus for removing labels from bottles, a soaking tank adapted to receive a body of liquid, means for submerging the bottles in said body of liquid to soak and loosen the labels, said submerging means including a bottle carrier movable into and out of the body of liquid, means for forcibly projecting portions of said liquid toward the submerged bottles to remove the loosened labels, said projecting means comprising a nozzle submerged in the liquid at one side of the course of said bottle carrier, and a pump communicating with the submerged nozzle to forcibly discharge a violent submerged stream of' liquid from said submerged nozzle and through the bottle carrier, and a strainer to receive labels in the resultant stream of liquid, said strainer and nozzle being at opposite sides of the bottle carrier and at different elevations, so as to locate the strainer in the course of labels moving toward said bottle carrier.

JAMES L. HEROLD. 

